L4 Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support Worker          (next cohort intake Jan 2025)

Examples of job roles this qualification is suitable for but not limited to are:

• Domestic Abuse Support Worker
• Domestic Violence Outreach Community Support Worker
• Black and Minoritised Specialist Support Worker
• Children and Young People Domestic Abuse Support Worker
• Independent Domestic Violence Advisor
• Independent Sexual Violence Advisor
• Refuge Support Worker etc.

• Apprentices without level 2 English and maths will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End-Point Assessment.
• For those with an education, health and care plan or a legacy statement, the apprenticeship’s English and maths minimum requirement is Entry Level 3.
• A British Sign Language (BSL) qualification is an alternative to the English qualification for those whose primary language is BSL.
• Undertake the Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service process and provide the result.

The qualification usually takes around 18 months including 3 months EPA period. However, it is possible to complete earlier depending on the existing achievements and individual circumstances. This can be discussed with your tutor. The apprentice must spend at least 12 months on-programme and complete the required amount of off-the-job training in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.

The aim of this qualification is to support the apprentice’s understanding of the 3 key areas covering the Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours (KSBs). This is a core and options apprenticeship. An apprentice will be trained and assessed against the core and one option. The options are:

• Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA)
• Children and Young People Domestic Abuse Support Worker (CYPDASW)
• Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA)

The core occupation duties of the Level 4 Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support Worker are as follows.

• Duty 1 – Respond to and manage information from survivors and supply information to external agencies.
• Duty 2 – Respond to and manage crisis situations whilst adhering to lone working policies and other relevant procedures.
• Duty 3 – Carry out risk assessment and safety planning with survivors whilst considering safeguarding issues and individual support needs.
• Duty 4 – Commit to equality and challenge inequality and discrimination in all aspects of practice.
• Duty 5 – Use different communication methods and adapt your style to achieve the desired outcomes for survivors.
• Duty 6 – Create a safe and appropriate environment for survivors within the context of your service using trauma informed approaches.
• Duty 7 – Manage and maintain casework and information sharing in line with legal requirements and organisational policy and procedures.
• Duty 8 – Raise awareness of the nature, prevalence, and consequences of all forms of domestic and sexual abuse and violence.
• Duty 9 – Support survivors through criminal and or civil court processes.
• Duty 10 – Support and engage with survivors to inform them of local and regional services.
• Duty 11 – Advocate for survivors and their families within multi-agency settings and processes.
• Duty 12 – Provide information and support to enable survivors to make their own informed choices towards recovery.
• Duty 13 – Maintain own wellbeing and personal development via training or supervision.

On-programme assessment of the knowledge, skills and behaviours will lead to the final synoptic end-point assessment.

Apprentices will be allocated a qualified tutor to support the full completion of the apprenticeship and prepare them for the end-point assessment (sometimes 2 tutors will be required at different times for teaching different elements). The tutor will undertake engaging and interactive teaching, learning and support sessions with the apprentice on a regular basis (at least every 4-5 weeks), either remotely via Microsoft Teams or in the workplace if appropriate, to conduct teaching, learning and assessments. These will be planned with the apprentice and employer.

The tutor will manage a portfolio of evidence using an online electronic system called OneFile and give regular updates about progress. Apprentices can contact their tutor in between visits to discuss any aspect of their qualification and will be able to access their online portfolio 24/7.

• Level 4 Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support Worker Apprenticeship Standard
• Level 2 Functional Skills in English (if not exempt)
• Level 2 Functional Skills in maths (if not exempt)

Before the apprentice is adjudged ready to undertake the end-point assessment by their employer and training provider, they will need to:

• Receive confirmation from the employer that the apprentice is deemed to be working at or above the level set out in the apprenticeship standard and ready to undertake the EPA
• Achieve Level 2 in English and maths Functional Skills (if not exempt)
• Submit a portfolio of evidence to support the professional discussion

The purpose of the end-point assessment is to test (in a synoptic way) the knowledge, skills and behaviours of the apprentice as set out in the apprenticeship standard.

The end-point assessment:

• provides apprentices with a showcase opportunity to provide oral and documentary evidence of their knowledge, skills and behaviours developed throughout the apprenticeship.
• enables the independent assessor to assess the skills and behaviours of the apprentice by observing the apprentice in the course of their normal work.
• tests the knowledge acquired by the apprentice throughout the apprenticeship.

An end-point assessment will be conducted by an approved independent End-Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) listed on the Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR).

The end-point assessment will comprise two assessments. All assessments must be individually passed for the apprentice to be deemed competent:

• • Presentation with Questions: In the presentation with questions, the apprentice delivers a presentation to an independent assessor on a set subject. The independent assessor asks at least 5 questions after the presentation. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate the KSBs mapped to this assessment method. The presentation and questions will last for at least 45 minutes.

       Grading for Presentation with Questions: Pass/Distinction

• • Professional Discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence: A professional discussion is a 75-minute, formal two-way discussion between the apprentice and the independent assessor. The apprentice can refer to and illustrate their answers with evidence from their portfolio of evidence. The independent assessor asks at least 16 questions. It gives the apprentice the opportunity to demonstrate their depth of understanding across the KSBs and engages the apprentice in detailed discussions.

      Grading for Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence: Pass/Distinction

Overall apprenticeship standard grade: Pass/Distinction

Our tutor is a subject matter expert in domestic abuse, sexual violence, and trauma informed practice with over a decade of experience in the field, she holds a Master’s in Human Rights Law, several safeguarding qualifications, and is a qualified Independent Sexual Violence Advisor with six years’ experience working in a variety of frontline advocacy and support roles in both domestic abuse and sexual violence. Her roles included providing emotional support, utilising a trauma-informed, needs led, strengths based, intersectional, and anti-oppressive approach; as well as practical support, safety planning and advocacy to ensure holistic, best-practice survivor care was provided. She has worked with survivors of sexual and domestic abuse, as well as with young adult survivors.  

Our tutor is also a Level 4 qualified Trainer with over 5 years’ experience delivering training to statutory, voluntary, and private organisations on a variety of subjects relating to Domestic and Sexual Abuse. She previously served on the College of Policing’s Domestic Abuse Matters editorial board and has delivered both the First Responder and Champion Training to Police Officers. Furthermore, she was instrumental in developing the Agored Cymru Level 4 Diploma in Advocacy and Support Skills for Working with Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) Survivors, which included pathways to IDVA, ISVA and CYP specialist worker roles. She has also reviewed and fed back on the new Home Office IDVA and ISVA Guidance and the National Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Occupational standards.